Moisture eliminating device for compressed-air systems



Oct. 23, 1951 F. w. BURD 2,572,311

MOISTURE ELIMINATING DEVICE FOR COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS Filed March 8, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOISTURE ELIMINATING DEVlCE FOR.

' COMPRESSED-AIR SYSTEMS This invention relates to improvements in devices for relieving compressed air systems of moisture.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of a device adapted for use in connection with a compressed air system to facilitate the discharge of liquids and moisthe foregoing andvarious other novel features and advantages and other obiects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claim hereunto annexed and more fu described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the discharge device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the device connected to apparatus with which it may be used.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A hollow body 2 is provided with a transverse partition 4 to rovi e up r and, lower hambers 6 and 8. A discharge outlet I is provided at a side of the body which is in communication with the lower chamber 8.

A central hub l2 extends upwardly and downwardly from the partition 4 and is provided with a longitudinal bore l4. Upper and lower ports I6 and H! are provided in opposite sides of the hub 12 which are in communication with the upper and lower chambers 6 and 8.

A perforated strainer 20 in the upper portion of chamber 6 supports a filter 22. The strainer is a perforated plate and the filter will preferably include a multiplicity of fine filaments or ribbons which may be of non-ferrous material adapted to retain solid matter.

Anupper. cap 24 is in screw threaded engage- .mentwith the upper side of the body 2 and there and body.

,The cap 24 is providedwith an upper inlet 28 which may be connected to the pressure tank or reservoir of a compressed air system.

Air entering inlet 28 often carries with it small amounts of water, moisture or oil and small solid particles-which lodge in the filter. The member 24. being screw threaded on the body is removable for replacement of the filter when desired.

H A lower cap 30 is provided which is in threaded engagement with the lowerside of the body and is provided with a lower inlet 32. The inlet 32 is formed to have a restricted inlet port 34 leading into the lower chamber 8 and said inlet 32 may be-connected to the pressure side of an air compressor. A sealing washer 36 is provided between the body and lowercap. r

A valve member 40 has .a lower piston portion 42 in the lower chamber, and intermediate and upper relatively smaller piston portions 44 and 46 in the bore l4; The piston portions have annular grooves 48, 50 and 52 and seal members 54, 56 and 58 are disposed therein.

The sealing members 54, 56 and 58 are ringlike or annular in shape and circular in cross section and will be formed from yieldable material whereby the pistons slide in the chamber and bore without leakage therepast.

The ports I6 and I8 terminate at their inner ends at upper and lower sides of the partition 4.

In describing the operation of the device, reference will be made to Fig. 3.

The device has the upper inlet 28 thereof connected to an air tank 60. A pipe 62 extends from the tank for connection to a system.

A pressure unit or compressor is shown at 64 which is connected by pipe 66 to the tank for supplying air thereto. A check valve 61 is provided in pipe 66 or the compressor may include a check valve as a component thereof. The inlet 32 of the device is connected by pipe 68 to pipe 66.

The compressor will be any one of the common forms having electrically or mechanically operated unloading means to release pressure when the compressor becomes inoperative.

By system to which pipe 62 is connected is meant any equipment requiring air for its operation.

When compressor 64 is put into operation, air under pressure enters inlet 32 of the device and elevates piston 42 so that it abuts the end of hub I2 at which time piston 44 is disposed between upper and lower ports I 6 and 18.

During upward movement of piston 42 any liquid thereabove in the bore therefor is displaced out through discharge l0.

While the compressor is in operation, pressure at inlet 32 is usually greater than at inlet 28 and as piston 42 is of greater area than upper piston member 52 the piston remains in upper position from that shown.

As the pistons are moving downwardly, water,

oil and foreign substances which may include chips, sand or the like, is carried through inlet 28 by air. Foreign substances lodge in filter 22.-

Air passes through the filter as well as oil or water, into chamber 6. From the said chamber the air, water and oil pass through ports I6 into bore [4, around piston portioneonnecting' 50 and 52, out ports 18 into chamber band-outdischarge 10. Communication between upper chamber 6 and lower chamber 8 is maintained by means of portsxlB and I 8 while the upper pistonportion is imovingfrom its upper position to the lower position shown.

In the lower position of the pistons, inlet 28 v i is cut off from discharge W by piston portion 52. Thus, each time the compressor starts up and becomes inoperative the device functions to eliminate water, oil and the like,

Th invention may e o ed-in ther sp cific'forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof, Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered'in embraced therein.

What it is desiredto claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

A device adapted for connection in a compressed air system to eliminate liquid therefrom comprising in combination, a body having upper and lower chambers separated by a partition and provided with a discharge in communication with said lower chamber, a hub extending upwardly from said partition in said upper and lower chamber and provided with a longitudinal bore and separate elongated upper and lower ports between said bore and chambers, an upper cap on said body closing said upper chamber, a lower cap on said body closing said lower chamber, saidupper. cap having an inlet for connection to a pressure tank, said lower cap having an inlet for connection to a pressure unit and provided with a restricted opening into the lower chamber, a valve having a lower piston in said lower chamber and intermediate and upper pistons in said bore and movable up and down in said lower chamber and bore, said pistons protit ed wi h annularperipheral grooves andyieldableseal rings therein,- said lower. piston being relatively larger in diameter than said; intermediate a-ndupperpistons, all adapted andarranged-wherebyinlower position of the valve the upper piston is disposed between said upperand lower ports while in upper position thereof the intermediate piston is disposed between said ports. 1

FRANCIS W. BURD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

